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Algeria Confirm Ghoulam In World Cup Squad

Today is Roster Announcement Day, and another Napoli player's place in Brazil has been confirmed, as Algeria announce their official World Cup squad.

You'd think he would be more excited.
You'd think he would be more excited.
Giuseppe Bellini

While Algeria will likely be one of the less-popular teams at the World Cup, Napoli fans have a reason to root for them: Faouzi Ghoulam is officially a part of the squad that they're taking to Brazil.

Ghoulam is in line for plenty of playing time in the World Cup, as he's the only dedicated left back on the roster. Winger Djamel Mesbah can do a job back there if needed, as well as a couple of their center backs, but Ghoulam should be the primary recipient of Algeria's minutes at the position.

His nation faces an underratedly tough group; Group H contains everyone's favorite rising stars in Belgium, always-dangerous Russia, and South Korea squad that some think could surprise people once the tournament starts. While it's certainly possible that Algeria can find a way to sneak through the group stage, they have a steep road to climb.

Ghoulam is one of four Serie A players on the roster, including Mesbah (Livorno), Saphir Taider (Inter Milan), and ex-Napoli midfielder Hassan Yebda (Udinese, on loan from Granada). They'll be relying heavily on Nabil Ghilas and Islam Slimani, two quality strikers who ply their trades in Portugal, as well as Tottenham Hotspur starlet Nabil Bentaleb, who made a one-time switch from France's youth setup earlier this year.

Algeria's World Cup campaign kicks off on June 17th, when they'll face Dries Mertens and Belgium.